@Bailey Glade

Edmund positioned himself in a way that, if the girl, Bailey, were to keep talking to him, she wouldn't be able to look in his father's general direction. See, he did not mind his father's fame—on other occasions, he loved it: it meant they got special treatment from time to time, but, the whole Fanclub, autograph thing got on his nerves quickly.

"It can't be that different," Stated Edmund, stubborn as always, not willing to let her have the last on this matter. "It has a lot of towers and I know all about the ghosts... Sir. Nicholas, the Grey Lady, and the Bloody Baron. I even know they dated,"

When Bailey continued her questions, his brain began working on other lies. She was right, he knew. Theodore wouldn't believe him if he had said the random girl that had stolen his wand out of nowhere. He honestly didn't know what to come up with now, so he sighed in defeat, red dusting cheeks in embarrassment as Eddie crossed his arms, looking upwards.

"I don't know. Why do you ask so many questions?" Deflected Eddie, as it was the only option.

For a second, he thought of ignoring her question regarding his father's fame, by suggesting they went to eat ice cream or to Magical Menagerie to play with the cats or something. Before he could, however, the girl's dismissive and rude tone got his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. Bailey was the first witch she had ever met that didn't like Quidditch. Not that he cared. People could like whatever they wanted, but it sure sounded like she was discrediting his father's skills, which had Edmund's lips falling open in an incredulous expression.

"A Quidditch player?" He repeated, shaking his head slowly like her reaction didn't make any sense to him because it didn't. "He's the face of his team, alright? He's the best player in the world!"

Reducio

Bahahaha, it's alright, don't worry!

@Edmund Dempsie

Stubbornly, Edmund argued that Hogwarts couldn’t be that different. Sighing, Bailey said “Whatever. You will see when you get there.”
When she accused him of lying, his face reddened, clearly embarrassed. He tried to deflect the conversation, asking why she asked so many questions. Deciding to go easy on him, she answered “Because i am a naturally curious person.”
Then she said something about not caring about quidditch; this clearly set him off and he immediately said that his father was the face of a quidditch team[/i], and the best player in the world.
Bailey, having never heard of that team, was skeptical. “Really? I’ve never heard of him. Though I don’t know much about Quidditch since it is like my worst nightmare at Hogwarts.”
Looking around, Bailey spotted Florean Fortiscue’s Ice Cream parlor. Knowing how good the ice cream was there, she tried to distract Edmund with it.
“Why don’t we go get some ice cream? It is getting quite warm. We could talk about something else too. Like, siblings or hobbies or sports you like. Does this sound like a plan?”
Waiting for his response, Bailey tucked her hands into her slacks pockets, and easer her defensive stance.

Word count: 210 ish

@Bailey Glade

You're naturally annoying, that's what you are. Those words almost slipped through his mouth when Bailey said she was curious, but Edmund was nice enough not to say it. He had been called annoying many, many times before by other kids his age and older and it hurt every time, so he wouldn't want to be mean to someone like that as well.

However, he could restrain his shocked reaction when the girl said she had never heard of his father. He stared at her with wide eyes, half-expecting her to say she was messing with him. By her expression, though, the boy could tell that it wasn't a joke.

"Wot? Really?!" Edmund let out, scanning her before nodding. "Wow. That's the first time someone's ever said that... wow,"

He hummed, uncrossing his arms, and taking another look at his father before considering her offer to have ice cream together. Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour was the best place to get ice cream. Growing up, he'd convince his parents to take him there all the time. Edmund shoved his hand in his pocket, feeling a few sickles in there, which was more than enough to buy something for himself. He stared at Bailey and nodded with a more relaxed stance, not finding the need to be so defensive and stubborn around her anymore.

"Yeah, alright. Let's go there," Eddie said, motioning to the ice cream parlor with his chin, before leaving QQS with her next to him. "You said you're in your second year. What house did you get sorted into?"

@Edmund Dempsie

Edmund seemed shocked when she said she had never heard ofhis father.
“I am muggle born.” Bailey explained. “I didn't grow up with Quidditch. And plus, I’m a tad clumsy at times and at flying class, it is brought out.”
As Edmund hummed and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, he seemed to be considering her offer.
When he agreed, Bailey felt relieved. As they headed over to the ice cream parlor, he asked her what house she was in.
“I am in Ravenclaw! What house do you expect to be sorted into? Do you have one you want to be sorted into?”
When they got to the door, Bailey took a step ahead and held the door open for Edmund. Knowing he might ask questions, she slightly regretted it; she didn’t like telling people in public that she was a third degree black belt. Hopefully… he doesn’t ask too many questions. she thought.
As they walked up to the counter, Bailey ordered a Raspberry flavoured soft ice cream. It was only 5 sickles and Bailey gladly payed up.
While waiting for Edmund to order and pay, she walked over to a table and sat down.
Bailey pulled her bag off of her shoulder and hung it on the chair.

Word count: 220 ish

@Bailey Glade

Ah, so I was right. She is a muggle-born. Thought Edmund as Bailey explained her lack of interest in the wizarding sport. It was understandable. He, despite never having contact with a muggle or a muggle-born before, knew a little bit about them. Aunt Margaret worked with Muggle Relations and always had a lot to say about them. They had a game called football and the muggle version of chess, both sounding quite boring.

"My mum was a Ravenclaw too," Mused Edmund. "My father was a Slytherin. There's not a lot of pressure for me to get sorted into one specific House. I like them all, really... but," He scrunched his nose, as they entered Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. "I would rather go to Ravenclaw, like mum,"

It was cold inside, and there were a lot of families in there, enjoying their icy treat. Eddie analyzed the display, deep in thought. He ordered Strawberry & Peanut Butter with sour jellies on top, paying 9 sickles, before following Bailey to where she was seated.

He sat down, eating a spoonful, making a face at how sour the jellies were, "When did you learn you're a witch? Did you accidentally explode something? It must've been a surprise, right? Like, your parents, how did they react?"

@Edmund Dempsie

When Edmund mentioned that his mum had been in Ravenclaw and his father was a Slytherin, Bailey immediately wondered Ohh does that mean he wants to be in one of those houses?
Thankfully he answered, saying he would rather be in Ravenclaw, but besides that he had no preference.
“I hope you do make it into Ravenclaw. You would be a great addition to the house, and I think you would easily make the Quidditch team. And everyone is super nice!”
After she ordered and sat down, Edmund did the same and joined her at the table. He took a bite of his ice cream and then asked what her first instance of magic was.
“It was in local library in Leeds. I saw the newest edition of the book in my favorite series and I was super excited; so excited I made it fly probably 20 feet across the library into my hand. The librarian was a squib, and she made everyone believe she had tripped and I had caught the book. She also explained to my parents and I what I was and what had actually happened. And my parents and I were shocked; like anyone would be when they are told magic is real and your daughter is a witch. Anyways, how did you find out for sure you were a wizard?”

Word count: 230 ish

@Bailey Glade

He muttered a thank you at her comment on him being sorted into Ravenclaw, lips curling upwards in a tiny smile. The boy liked to think he was fit for every House and that it was up to the Sorting Hat. Ending up in the same House as his mother was sort of his way to feel more connected to her, it was weird to explain.

Edmund listened to her story, head moving slightly to let her know he was paying attention, plastic spoon hanging from his lips. It must've been shocking for the muggles inside to see a book flying straight to a girl's hand. When the question was turned back to him, Edmund ate another spoonful before replying, licking his lips.

"I mean, I always knew, right?... I grew up with this and it never crossed my mind I wouldn't be able to do it," He said, shrugging. "But the first real magic was when I was seven. My parents told me some shocking news and I glued their hands together," Edmund laughed, memories of that evening coming back to him. It was amusing now, because, at that moment, he could only feel pain and distress. "They wouldn't let go of one another. Couldn't. Not until I calmed down,"

@Edmund Dempsie

When Edmund blushed at her saying he would make a good Ravenclaw, Bailey smiled and blushed a little too. She always blushed when people around her did- and she had no idea why.
As he tilted his head to the side, Edmund listened to her talk. Before talking or responding, he took a bit of his ice cream creation. Then he said something that stuck a chord with Bailey: What if he… had not shown signs of magic? His whole world would be different - would he be here? Do squibs still go to Hogwarts?
Turning her mind back to the conversation, she ate her ice cream and listened to Edmund explain his first instance of magic.
When she was done, her curiosity got to the best of her and she asked the questions that were on her mind.
“So… what was the news? You don’t have To share if it’s too personal… but was it good or bad news?”
After a pause, Bailey asked a few more questions. “And wait was it like growing up with parents who were magical? And with a famous dad? Do you travel to watch him play a lot? And where did you do to school?”
Worried she overwhelmed him, Bailey quickly stopped talking and focused on eating her ice cream. It was quite delicious, and she was glad she and Edmund had came over here.

Word count: 235 ish

@Bailey Glade

At the sudden question about the topic he wanted to avoid, Edmund shrugged again, finishing his ice cream slowly, cleaning the corners of his mouth before saying, lying as easily as always, "Ah, we were moving to Cambridge. I overreacted,"

It was a lot more than that - his parent's divorce had changed his life in ways he could never recover from, not really, at least, but Bailey didn't need to know. It was a sensitive topic that he only ever talked to with Granny. Not even Theodore talked about it with him after they moved. The divorce became a taboo, of sorts - worse than the Forbidden Curses.

"Oh, it's... life. You know, it's just how it's always been. I get excited about stuff, of course, but magic is, like, breathing," said Eddie, not understanding her question all that well. In regards to magic, that is. When you've had something all your life, it's impossible to imagine how it would be as if it never had been there in the first place. Then, Bailey asked about his father and he visibly cringed. "We don't travel a lot, no. My father is busy, but we function like any other family - magical or not. And I was homeschooled up until now. What do your parents work with?"

He changed the focus to her for a second, diving into his ice cream. Normally, talking about himself was his favorite to do, but not... not when the topic at hand was his parents and his father's fame. Those would join the divorce as things he'd rather not hear or talk about at all.

@Edmund Dempsie

Bonding over ice cream… quite poetic Bailey thought as she and Edmund talked. They had gone from a potential fight to maybe friends? I hope we are friends… Bailey thought.
When he mentioned moving to Cambridge,
Bailey shot up in surprise. He did say he lived in Cambridge, right? Bailey wondered. “That is only like a three hour drive from where I live! Do you still live there? Maybe one day we could visit one another!”
Them he mentioned magic being like breathing. Bailey then felt compelled to ask “Have you actually tried any spells with one of your parent’s wands? Or was that attempt your first one? Have you actually done any magic besides gluing your parents together?”
Them Edmund asked her a question that she was super surprised about. Not many people have asked me that question Bailey thought. I am going to answer it though.
“Oh well.. my mum homeschools me and my three younger brothers, and my dad is a firefighter. On the days he is not at the firehouse, he helps around the house fixing stuff or tending to the garden. He also helps my brothers and I with our lessons sometimes.”

Word count: 210 ish